Speedometers, Oil Change And Tranny Question

[KyRob]

My speedometer is stuck on 35 mph at this time but will probably be on something else next time I start the truck. I went to the dealer and let them know that GM was still paying for the cluster changeout up to 2011, in my case anyway, and since it has 43,000 miles on it, it qualifies. They ordered the replacement and will be installing it next Monday.

 

I changed the oil about 1000 miles ago and noticed today that the readout is saying to change oil or oil change needed. Could this be caused by the speedo problem or do I need to reset something or is something going on that I should change the oil again?

 

 

The truck has 43,000 on it and I have not done anything with the transmission to date. I was reading some posts on here and ran across this.

 

"The main reason I know the proper move to get the pan down is simply because I have changed the fluid and filter ever 20k and fluid in the pan every other oil change."

 

Seems to me this would be a bit to much. I haul firewood often and pull a trailer very seldom so haven't changed the fluid yet. My wifes car has 200,000 miles on it and we have never touched the transmission. Just curious what makes the truck transmissions different that they need attention so often.

 

Thanks,

Rob

[[email protected]]

I didn't change the tranny fluid in mine until 100000 miles and it still pulls hard. As for the OLM, I have no clue what could've screwed with it.

[Stevens03]

If you didn't reset the oil life meter, then you need to.

 

Transmissions good for 100,000 miles ... so GM says... personally I like to do a fluid swap around 60,000 miles. But a filter change every 25,000 miles. But thats me. :

[dlstewart01]

You have to manually reset the oil chance message when you chance oil.

[txab]

My speedometer is stuck on 35 mph at this time but will probably be on something else next time I start the truck. I went to the dealer and let them know that GM was still paying for the cluster changeout up to 2011, in my case anyway, and since it has 43,000 miles on it, it qualifies. They ordered the replacement and will be installing it next Monday.

 

I changed the oil about 1000 miles ago and noticed today that the readout is saying to change oil or oil change needed. Could this be caused by the speedo problem or do I need to reset something or is something going on that I should change the oil again?

 

 

The truck has 43,000 on it and I have not done anything with the transmission to date. I was reading some posts on here and ran across this.

 

"The main reason I know the proper move to get the pan down is simply because I have changed the fluid and filter ever 20k and fluid in the pan every other oil change."

 

Seems to me this would be a bit to much. I haul firewood often and pull a trailer very seldom so haven't changed the fluid yet. My wifes car has 200,000 miles on it and we have never touched the transmission. Just curious what makes the truck transmissions different that they need attention so often.

Thanks,

Rob

 

Here's two reasons they might need attention....

 

 

1.

I had 750 lbs in the bed and 6500 lbs behind it today. No problems until you hit a dip in the road and then it would make you look like a bobble head for a few seconds.

 

Rob

 

 

2.

I have an 04 Sierra extended cab 4x4 with a 5.3 and 373 gears. I need to get a small backhoe to my farm that is about 25 miles away with several hills on country roads. The trailer has electric brakes but my truck is not set up for them The backhoe and trailer together weigh about 5500 lbs. Should I try and borrow a truck or will mine do it safely with just the truck brakes. Top speed will be maybe 45 for a very short time.

 

Thanks for any info,

Rob

[EvolutionX]

My 04 Denali speedo also is stuck but its stuck past 120 actually on the lip of the cluster. Does anyone know if the Dealer will cover this?? I have 67k on the truck.

[KyRob]

EvoX, You should be covered up to 70,000 but not sure as it doesn't specify Denali. Here's what I found on it.

 

"The latest bulletin...

 

# 07187C: Special Coverage Adjustment - Instrument Panel Cluster Gauge Needle Function - (Mar 20, 2009)

Subject:

07187C -- SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT - INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER GAUGE NEEDLE FUNCTION

 

Models:

2003-2004 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT

2005 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT (U.S. ONLY)

2003-2004 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE

2005 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE (U.S.ONLY)

2003-2004 GMC SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL

2005 GMC SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL (U.S. ONLY)

 

THIS BULLETIN IS BEING REVISED TO INCLUDE CERTAIN 2005 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES IN THE U.S. ADDITIONALLY, FOR U.S. 2003-2005 MODEL YEAR VEHICLES, GM WILL PROVIDE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER (IPC) ONLY, AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER FOR VERIFIED FAILURES BETWEEN 70,001 MILES (110,001 KM) AND 80,000 MILES (130,000 KM). ANY ADDITIONAL COSTS, INCLUDING LABOR TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER, WILL BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CUSTOMER. DEALERS WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OF THE CUSTOMER'S IPC BACK TO THE ELECTRONIC SERVICE CENTER. PLEASE DISCARD ALL COPIES OF BULLETIN 07187B, ISSUED SEPTEMBER 2008.

 

CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP TO ARRANGE AN APPOINTMENT IF THEY BELIEVE THEIR VEHICLE HAS THIS CONDITION. THE CUSTOMER IS BEING ASKED TO PROVIDE THE VIN SO THE IPC CAN BE ORDERED IN ADVANCE OF THE SCHEDULED APPOINTMENT. THIS WILL ELIMINATE THE NEED TO KEEP THE VEHICLE OVERNIGHT. DEALERS ARE TO OBTAIN THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WHEN SCHEDULING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE VEHICLE MILEAGE WILL BE REQUIRED WHEN PLACING AN ORDER FOR THE IPC.

 

Condition

 

Some customers of all 2003-2004 model year and certain U.S. 2005 model year Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Sierra, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles have reported that one or more of the instrument panel (IP) cluster gauges stick, flutter, or become inoperative. This may cause inaccurate readings, including the speedometer and fuel gauge. Special Coverage Adjustment This special coverage covers the condition described above for a period of 7 years or 70,000 miles (110,000 km), whichever occurs first, from the date the vehicle was originally placed in service, regardless of ownership.

 

Dealers are to replace the instrument panel cluster after the condition has been verified. The repairs will be made at no charge to the customer.

 

For verified failures between 70,001 miles (110,001 km) and 80,000 miles (130,000 km) on U.S. vehicles, dealers are to provide the customer with an instrument panel cluster (IPC) only. Any additional costs, including labor to replace the instrument panel cluster, will be the responsibility of the customer. Dealers are responsible for the return of the customer's IPC back to the Electronic Service Center.

 

For vehicles covered by Vehicle Service Contracts, all eligible claims with repair orders on or after September 28, 2007 for 2003-2004 model year vehicles, and March 23, 2009 for 2005 model year vehicles, are covered by this special coverage and must be submitted using the labor operation codes provided with this bulletin. Claims with repair orders prior to September 28, 2007 for 2003-2004 model year vehicles, or March 23, 2009 for 2005 model year vehicles, must be submitted to the Service Contract provider. "

 

 

txab- That pull was my first in the 4 years I have owned the truck of that much weight. Hopefully, I won't have to pull that much again for another 4 years. Anyway, I get the point that trucks are worked a lot harder than cars but a lot of them never have more than a soccer ball in the back. It's that kind that I was referring to moreso than the worked trucks.

 

Rob

[EvolutionX]

Good info thx KyRob. According to that it doesnt specify the "trim" level of Denali, but does cover Yukon which is almost identical. But I believe the Yukon speedo is slightly different than mine, not having the tranny temp gauge. Im going to call my GMC dealer and see what they say.

[Shu]

The tranny temp guage is just an additional stepper motor on the same circuit board for these trucks. All are covered under warranty as described in the previous post. I got my letter of the service bulletin after I had already past the 80000 mile mark, go figure. The speedo issue is a stepper motor problem and could be repaired at home if you have a soldering iron and a few common tools and read the several threads on how to do it on here. There are even a few places with ads on eBay that will replace all the stepper motors and lights in your cluster for like $50 or so.

 

The manual states 100000 miles on the transmission is fine because they come with synthetic fluid from GM. When you change it, I'd recommend sticking with a good synthetic fluid as well. I changed my fluid at 60000 miles and then fluid and filter at near 110000 miles. In both cases the fluid looked fine and the filter was still in good shape. I wouldn't consider my towing or heavy hauling as a common thing though. I definately would change both fluid and filter at the 100000 mile mark and then every 50000 miles after that for us non towers.

 

And when you change your engine oil, turn the key to the run postion but don't start and then pump your accelerator peddle several times and the oil life monitor will reset.

[KyRob]

"And when you change your engine oil, turn the key to the run postion but don't start and then pump your accelerator peddle several times and the oil life monitor will reset. "

 

Thanks for this info. I was getting ready to ask how it was done. Don't think I would have ever tried that. Who thinks these resets up anyway?

 

Rob

[Black02Silverado]

As stated above, if you didn't reset the OLM then that would be the reason it is now coming on telling you to change it. It still thinks it is the old oil from the last change.

 

GM states that the transmissions can go 100k before service is needed, to me that is a little extreme. I changed my transmission fluid over to AMSOIL when the truck had 10k miles on it and had the fluid analyzed at 80k and the fluid was in need of changing out. I don't do much hauling or towing but have in the distant past with it towing a 5k boat and about 10 loads of dirt that probably overloaded the truck but it wasn't far from the place I got the dirt from to my house.

 

50k mile fluid changes with synthetic would be a good routine to follow. Now that dexron VI is out most can switch over to a better fluid than the old dexron III.

[jro909]

i'm still trying to figure out what is being put in 800s now if people don't switch to dex6, is dex6 just being thrown in with dex3?

[txab]

i'm still trying to figure out what is being put in 800s now if people don't switch to dex6, is dex6 just being thrown in with dex3?

D VI is compatible with previous versions of Dex

[dlstewart01]

http://www.sandyblogs.com/techlink/2009/05/dexron-vi.html